Sea to Sky School District director of instruction Rose MacKenzie will be the next principal of Howe Sound Secondary when Nancy Campbell retires this summer.
MacKenzie has been involved with the school district for more than 25 years and has assumed a variety of roles.
She began her career at Pemberton Secondary teaching special education and mathematics before moving to Don Ross Secondary, where she spent about 20 years, moving from teaching to counselling and finally administration.
Working from the district office the last three years, MacKenzie recently helped develop the Reconnect Alternative Program (Alternative School) for students in need of a different learning environment, while overseeing the Howe Sound Outreach School (Distributive Learning School) for employed students needing online coursework.
MacKenzie considers her ability to understand and support different kinds of students one of her greatest strengths and she is keen to work with teachers on the academic component.
"That will be a real challenge for me and something I really look forward to. And kind of creating that culture of inquiry when it comes to meeting the academic and social needs of our students," said MacKenzie.
"I believe children can do well if they can and it's up to schools to work with students to help them be the best they can be."
An integral part of any education is the concept of "connectedness," said MacKenzie. In order to be successful, students need to feel that they belong and are connected to the school, their peers and teachers. Connectedness helps harvest learning no matter the unique needs of the individual student, she said.
MacKenzie has been a member of the Sea to Sky Restorative Justice Society for a decade and is a great believer in restorative practices when it comes to disciplinary action.
"I'm interested in us using practices in lieu of suspensions and detentions. I really want to work with staff on how to better connect with students and how to problem solve. It's the empathetic response, defining the problem, and then inviting that student to work with us to come to a mutually satisfactory conclusion. Students make mistakes, adults make mistakes, it's about fixing it and making it right," she said.
Sea to Sky School District superintendent Dr. Rick Erickson said MacKenzie is a natural fit for the position because she already has a very positive reputation with teachers, parents and students. She will also keep her district title, bringing Howe Sound Secondary, the Alternative School and the Distributive Learning School under one administration.
MacKenzie is experienced in managing groups without neglecting attention toward the individual, said Erickson.
"We want to work both with the group and with each individual, and certainly Rose's background and personality is very much to both the group and one student at a time," he said.
MacKenzie said she is excited to take over as principal this summer and is already doing transition work with Campbell, the elementary schools and Don Ross Secondary. She expects one of the biggest challenges will be helping students navigate a turbulent and changing world.
"That's no joke. It's an increasingly complex world and not only do we have to prepare the students academically but also in terms of how to be problem solvers, how to be flexible, because the world is changing."
